MANILA-The Sandiganbayan has sentenced a Cebu town official of up to 20 years behind bars and fined PHP2 million for graft and malversation. In its 125 page decision dated Feb. 7 and written by Associate Justice Kevin Narce Vivero , the anti-graft court found Esperato del Socorro, former municipal treasurer of Ronda municipality in Cebu province, guilty of violating Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and sentenced him up to 10 years imprisonment and perpetual disqualification from holding public office. He was likewise found guilty in a separate charge of malversation of public funds, which also carries a penalty of up to 10 years and was fined PHP2.063 million. Aside from the fine, he was also sentenced to refund a similar PHP2.063 million to the Bureau of Treasury. Del Socorro had been charged along with the former town mayor, the late Esteban Sia, in connection with irregularities discovered by state auditors in 2009, along with former municipal accountant
MANILA-The Sandiganbayan has cleared a former town mayor in Leyte province and convicted seven others in graft charges arising from the officials' refusal to recognize the appointment of a member of the Sangguniang Bayan, who was appointed by the provincial governor to replace a resigned council member, 24 years ago. In its 34-page decision written by Associate Justice Kevin Narce Vivero and dated Jan. 24, the anti-graft court's sixth division found former Hilongos town mayor Altagracia Villaflor not guilty with the tribunal citing that "the evidence of the prosecution failed to sufficiently establish all the elements of the crime charged and for failure of the prosecution to overcome the presumption of innocence." The tribunal instead found former vice mayor Panfilo Go, and municipal sangguniang bayan mambers Lamberto Rainier Flanco, Manuel Gabisan, Epifania Nerves, Lilia Sabando, Edwin Faller and Rogelio Yan guilty of graft and sentenced them to imprisonment of up t
(File photo) MANILA - The Sandiganbayan meted a fine to a former Abra town mayor over the unauthorized use of the town's internal revenue allotment (IRA) meant for development projects to rehabilitate its municipal hall in 2011. In a 31-page decision dated June 28 and written by Associate Justice Kevin Narce Vivero, the anti-graft court held former mayor Christopher Mallari Sr. of Licuan-Baay municipality liable for two counts of technical malversation and sentenced him to pay a fine of PHP160,000 in total for both charges. "Everything considered, the Court finds that the prosecution sufficiently established all the elements of the crime charged. However, there being no proof of damage or embarrassment to the public service as a result of the misapplication of the subject funds, the Court rules that the accused should be sentenced to pay a fine equivalent to up to fifty percent of the sum misapplied," the court ruled. Under the Local Government Code, each local government
Published January 14, 2021, 2:36 PM
The Sandiganbayan Sixth Division has denied the motion for reconsideration filed by former Tukuran Mayor Francisvic Villamero of Zamboanga del Sur and two others to file a demurrer to evidence in their graft charge due to the reportedly anomalous procurement of a motor grader back in 2011.
(MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Villamero was accused of violating Section 3(e) of R.A. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act alongside Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) Chairman Roberto Sayson, Vice Chairman Loreto Peñaranda, and members Rogelim Cabrales, Noe Gozalo, Ricardo Solis, Wilfredo David, Jovito Ondiano, and Solomon Donor.
Private individual Cesario Advincula Jr., President of IVAN CARR Industrial Supply and Construction Inc., is likewise charged with graft.
Published January 13, 2021, 12:37 PM
The Sandiganbayan Sixth Division affirmed its decision convicting three officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH-VII) and a private individual of the graft charge involving the overpriced supply and installation of LED bulbs, traffic signal lantern and other traffic control devices as well as street lighting facilities in Lapu-Lapu City in 2006.
(MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Regional Director Robert Gingging Lala, Officer-in-Charge Chief of the Maintenance Division Pureza Anunciado Fernandez, Regional Legal Officer and BAC member Agustinto Page Hermoso, as well as GAMPIK Construction and Development Inc. Chairman of the Board Gerardo Sison Surla filed motions for reconsideration last October 2020.